Persistent cough, loud wheeze, obvious difficulty in breathing, able to speak in short sentences only

Severe Exacerbation

Very distressed and anxious, gasping for breath,

unable to speak more than a few words in one

breath, pale and sweaty, may have blue lips

Asthma Triggers - Keeping a diary of what makes your child's asthma worse can help you better understand his/her triggers. Each child has different triggers. Some triggers can be avoided to help reduce the number of asthma attacks, or exacerbations, your child gets each year.

Allergens

This can include dust mites, dust, mold, animals, pollens, foods.

Smoking

Ask people to smoke outside. They should change clothes and wash hands before being in the same room with your child.

Exercise/Play

With good asthma control, your child should be able to keep up with other children of his/her own age.

Cold/Upper Respiratory Infections/Flu

Although these triggers cannot be avoided, it is important to follow an Asthma Action Plan to treat your child's symptoms.

Weather Change

Your child may need a controller medication only during certain seasons to help avoid asthma exacerbations.

· These medications do not treat acute asthma attacks. Giving these medications at the first sign of cough will not help.

· May take up to 2 weeks to be effective

· Should help reduce the frequency of acute asthma exacerbations and frequent oral steroid use

· Possible side effects with inhaled corticosteroids: oral thrush, voice change, unpleasant taste or cough, delayed growth velocity with normal catch-up growth - - most of these side effects can be reduced by properly using a spacer device and brushing teeth/mouth after use.